August 29, 2024

Myanmar garment workers, both domestic and abroad, are calling on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to take action against the military junta under Article 33 of the ILO constitution, according to a statement from the Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA).

This plea comes after industrial zone management committees began collecting personal information from workers in factories across Myanmar starting in August 2024. Garment workers fear that this data collection could lead to forced conscription into the military, creating a climate of fear and coercion under the junta.

The campaign aims to pressure the ILO to act under Article 33, which allows the organization to investigate and impose sanctions on member states that fail to comply with the ILO’s fundamental principles. The workers are urging the ILO to address these violations at the upcoming ILO Governing Body meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled for November 2024.

Since the military coup, Myanmar’s garment workers have faced increasing violations of their labor rights. The MLA highlighted these concerns, emphasizing the need for international intervention.

In June 2024, during the International Labour Conference in Geneva, member states, including the Philippines, Japan, the International Union of Foodworkers (IUF), and IndustriALL Global Union, also called for action against the junta.